Elinor Cook

Plays by Elinor Cook

Elinor Cook's Pilgrims is a play about adventure, betrayal, and man's impulse to conquer the world. It premiered at HighTide Festival, Aldeburgh, on 8 September 2016, before transferring to The Yard Theatre, London, on 20 September, and Theatr Clwyd, Mold, on 19 October 2016. It was co-produced by HighTide, Theatr Clwyd and Vicky Graham Productions in association with The Yard Theatre.

The play revolves around a triangular relationship between two young male mountaineers, the pragmatic Dan and the romantic Will, and a student of folk history, Rachel, with whom they both fall in love. Rachel, however, makes it clear that she rejects the role of the passive woman, subservient to the male hero; she wants to be the hero of her own story. But with the thrill of a climb just days away, it's not just principles, but people, in danger.

The premiere production was directed by Tamara Harvey and designed James Perkins. It was performed by Amanda Wilkin as Rachel, Steffan Donnelly as Will and Jack Monaghan as Dan.

Elinor Cook won the George Devine Award 2013 for Most Promising Playwright. Her plays include: Pilgrims (HighTide Festival and Yard Theatre, London, 2016); The Rehearsal (LAMDA); Ten Weeks (Paines Plough/Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama); Image of an Unknown Young Woman (Gate Theatre, London, 2015); The Girl’s Guide to Saving the World (HighTide Festival, 2014); The Boy Preference (National Theatre Connections); and this is where we got to when you came in (non zero one/Bush Theatre).She also wrote an episode of The Secrets for BBC One, directed by Dominic Savage.Author photo by Richard Davenport